Season 1952-53

16TH SEASON

SEASON REPORT

The sixteenth season was a worrying one, with lots of ups and downs and moments of occasional glory. Frequently enforced team changes and the complete or partial retirement or unavailability of some of the previous years Championship winning first team made the season a difficult one. It ended, however, with a good win in the final of the Robertsbridge Charity Cup, the second time in the club’s history that the 1st XI had won the trophy. The second team had their most successful season ever, reaching the final of the Hastings League Division Three Cup for the first time as well as developing a highly creditable team spirit. For the minors, it was a depressing season with a young, weak team, finishing bottom of the Hastings Youth League. They did complete all their fixtures thus maintaining the good name of the Club in the local football world.

1ST TEAM

On the few occasions the first team were at more-or-less full strength they played good football, but owing to injury, work and other causes almost all the regular players missed several games. Most of the second team and a number of members of the minor team made occasional appearances for the 1st team. The side finished in seventh place out of eleven teams in Hastings League Division One but did inflict one of only two defeats on champions Hollington United II with a 3-1 home victory in October. The highlight of the season was winning the Robertsbridge Charity Cup. The second team played the first round match against Etchingham United. The first team then took over with victories over Tenterden II, Robertsbridge United in the semi-final and Battle Rangers II in the final at Robertsbridge. The side which played in the final was:- Dick Crisford, J Herbert, Tony Gibson, Alf Holdstock (captain), John Farrow, John Archer, Arthur Baker, Ron Barden, Frank Baker, Phil Barling and Gordon Hickman.

Great credit was due to the regular members for their good-tempered acceptance of the circumstances over which the Club had no control, and also to the various players who captained the side in the absence of the regular captain and vice-captain, Alf Holdstock and Peter Shearer. The latter, a regular member for several seasons, moved to Somerset during the season and would be badly missed. It was very satisfactory that the Club’s reputation for clean play and good spirit when losing was upheld in a difficult year. There was bound to be a transition period before the younger players returned from the Forces and a good deal would depend on the willingness of the recognised leading players to carry the Club over this time before they retired.

Ron Barden appeared in thirty of the thirty-one games played and Frank Baker with 19 goals was leading scorer.

1ST TEAM PLAYING RECORD

DATEOPPONENTSVENUECOMPETITIONRESULTGOAL SCORERS
6/9/1952BeckleyAwayFriendly0 – 3
13/9/1952Old CentmodiansAwayFriendly3 – 7John Moon 2, Phil Barling
17/9/1952Eastbourne Old TownHomeFriendly0 – 1
20/9/1952Battle Rangers IIHomeSussex Junior Cup Preliminary Round2 – 0Phil Barling, Own Goal
27/9/1952Sidley United IIAwayLeague1 – 4Alf Holdstock (pen)
4/10/1952Hollington United IIHomeSussex Junior Cup 1st Round2 – 3 *John Archer, Frank Baker
11/10/1952Sedlescombe UnitedAwayLeague2 – 6Ron Barden, Frank Baker
25/10/1952Hollington United IIHomeLeague3 – 1Arthur Baker 2, Frank Baker
1/11/1952WestfieldAwayHastings F A Junior Cup 1st Round1 – 6Phil Barling
8/11/1952Robertsbridge UnitedHomeLeague3 – 3Don Boreham, Phil Barling, Frank Baker
29/11/1952Battle Rangers IIHomeLeague3 – 1Ron Barden, Arthur Baker, Frank Baker
6/12/1952Old CentmodiansHomeLeague4 – 4Arthur Baker 3, Phil Barling
20/12/1952Old CentmodiansAwayLeague1 – 1Frank Baker
26/12/1952R A F FairlightHomeFriendly5 – 1John Moon 2, Ron Barden 2, Bob Rich
3/1/1953NorthiamHomeLeague4 – 3Frank Baker 2, Phil Barling, Tony Gibson
10/1/1953Sidley United IIHomeLeague5 – 2Arthur Baker 3, Phil Barling, Frank Baker
17/1/1953Rye United IIHomeLeague0 – 3
31/1/1953Robertsbridge UnitedAwayLeague2 – 3Phil Barling, Frank Baker
7/2/1953Tenterden IIAwayRobertsbridge Charity Cup 2nd Round3 – 2John Archer, R Tyler, Frank Baker
14/2/1953Hastings Rangers IIHomeLeague2 – 1George Noakes, Phil Barling
21/2/1953Sedlescombe UnitedHomeLeague1 – 2Dick Crisford
28/2/1953Bexhill Town Athletic IIIAwayLeague5 – 4Phil Barling 2, Trevor Vince, Cyril Rich, Jimmy Herbert
7/3/1953Hastings Rangers IIAwayLeague1 – 6Arthur Baker
14/3/1953Hollington United IIAwayLeague1 – 11I Danford
21/3/1953Bexhill Town Athletic IIIHomeLeague3 – 5Frank Baker 2, Gordon Hickman
28/3/1953NorthiamAwayLeague2 – 10Alf Holdstock, David Ades
6/4/1953EconomicalsHomeFriendly3 – 0Frank Baker 2, Ron Barden
11/4/1953Battle Rangers IIAwayLeague3 – 1Frank Baker 2, Oliver Campbell
18/4/1953Robertsbridge UnitedNeutral<Robertsbridge Charity Cup Semi-Final3 – 2Frank Baker 2, Phil Barling
28/4/1953Rye United IIAwayLeague0 – 6
2/5/1953Battle Rangers IINeutral>Robertsbridge Charity Cup Final2 – 1John Archer, Ron Barden

2ND TEAM

The number of games won, seventeen was by far the best in the history of the second team and by winning the early tie at Etchingham the side played a part in the successful Robertsbridge Charity Cup campaign, as well as reaching the final of the Division Three Cup, knocking out Udimore, Battle Rangers III (after a replay), Old Centmodians II and Bohemia United, the holders. The final league position was fifth out of eleven sides. A 2-1 victory was achieved against champions Westfield and several of the strongest teams in the division dropped one or more points at Icklesham.

A good team spirit was largely responsible for the improvement and much credit for this was due to Andrew Dunlop, as 2nd team manager, and to Eric Hollingsworth and Bob Rich as captain and vice-captain. The team that beat Bohemia United in the Division Three Cup semi-final was the nucleus around which the side was built all season and this was – Ernie Capon, John Jury, Alan Brodie, Oliver Campbell, Jimmy Hayward, John Moon, Denis Swaine, Norman Butler, Cyril Rich, Eric Hollingsworth and Bob Rich.

Most appearances were made by Cyril Rich (29), Eric Hollingsworth, Bob Rich and Denis Swaine (28 each), Alan Brodie and Ernie Capon (27 each) and Norman Butler (25). Cyril Rich was top scorer with 20 goals.

2ND TEAM PLAYING RECORD

DATEOPPONENTSVENUECOMPETITIONRESULTGOAL SCORERS
20/9/1952GuestlingAwayFriendly5 – 3Norman Butler 2, John Moon, Eric Hollingsworth, Derek Edhouse
27/9/1952Hastings Electricity IIHome<League2 – 1Jimmy Hayward, Derek Edhouse
4/10/1952Bexhill MinorsAwayFriendly3 – 3F Wilkins 2, Eric Hollingsworth
11/10/1952Sedlescombe United IIHomeLeague5 – 2Norman Butler 2, Bob Rich 2, David Ades
18/10/1952GuestlingHomeLeague2 – 2John Moon, Don Boreham
25/10/1952Old Centmodians IIIAwayLeague7 – 3Don Boreham 3, Norman Butler 2, Denis Swaine, David Ades
8/11/1952Observer AthleticAwayFriendly2 – 9Malcolm Potten, Own Goal
15/11/1952WestfieldHomeLeague2 – 1Norman Butler, Bob Rich
22/11/1952Old Centmodians IIIHomeLeague4 – 0Cyril Rich 2, Norman Butler, Bob Rich
29/11/1952Northiam IIAwayLeague3 – 4Cyril Rich 3
6/12/1952UdimoreAwayLeague0 – 2
13/12/1952GuestlingAwayLeague2 – 3Cyril Rich, Don Boreham
20/12/1952Etchingham UnitedAwayRobertsbridge Charity Cup 1st Round4 – 2Cyril Rich 2, John Moon, Eric Hollingsworth
3/1/1953UdimoreHomeHastings League Division Three Cup 1st Round3 – 2Denis Swaine, Cyril Rich, Eric Hollingsworth
17/1/1953StaplecrossAwayFriendly2 – 1John Moon, Bob Rich
24/1/1953Battle Rangers IIAwayHastings League Division Three Cup 2nd Round2 – 2Cyril Rich, Bob Rich
31/1/1953Battle Rangers IIHomeHastings League Division Three Cup 2nd Round Replay5 – 2Cyril Rich 4, George Roberts
7/2/1953Bohemia UnitedAwayLeague1 – 2Denis Swaine
14/2/1953Old Centmodians IIIAwayHastings League Division Three Cup 3rd Round7 – 3Bob Rich 3, John Moon 2, Eric Hollingsworth 2
21/2/1953Sedlescombe United IIAwayLeague3 – 2George Roberts 2, Eric Hollingsworth
28/2/1953Robertson Street Young People’s SocietyAwayLeague0 – 1
14/3/1953Bohemia UnitedHomeLeague2 – 1Cyril Rich, Bob Rich
21/3/1953Corbens SportsAwayLeague3 – 0 #Cyril Rich 2, Bob Rich
28/3/1953Northiam IIHomeLeague3 – 1Cyril Rich 2,
4/4/4953Bohemia UnitedAwayHastings League Division Three Cup Semi-Final2 – 1Denis Swaine, Bob Rich
6/4/1953WestfieldAwayLeague0 – 7
11/4/1953UdimoreHomeLeague0 – 4
18/4/1953Robertson Street Young People’s SocietyHomeLeague2 – 4Cyril Rich, Eric Hollingsworth
21/4/1953Hastings Electricity IIHome<League2 – 1John Moon, Eric Hollingsworth
25/4/1953Etchingham UnitedNeutral>Hastings League Division Three Cup Final1 – 5Bob Rich

MINOR TEAM

A young minor team, which owed much to Trevor Vince as captain, had an uphill struggle against more experienced sides. The team finished the league programme in spite of frequent defeats and though bottom of the Minor League, they earned considerable praise locally. Good wins were gained against Round Table Boys Club and The Junior Club Tackleway. With almost all of the side still eligible, it was hoped the 1953-54 season would be a happier one.

Ron Barden, who played chiefly for the first team, represented Sussex Minors ‘B’ against Varndean School at Brighton.

MINOR TEAM PLAYING RECORD

DATEOPPONENTSVENUECOMPETITIONRESULTGOAL SCORERS
13/9/1952Rye United MinorsHomeFriendly1 – 5Malcolm Potten
20/9/1952The Junior Club TacklewayAwayLeague2 – 6Malcolm Potten 2
27/9/1952Army Cadet ForceAwayLeague2 – 2F Wilkins 2
11/10/1952St Leonards MinorsHomeLeague2 – 6Malcolm Potten 2
18/10/1952Round Table Boys ClubAwayLeague4 – 3F Wilkins 2, P Care, Ron Barden
25/10/1952Bexhill Town Athletic MinorsAwayLeague0 – 14
1/11/1952Army Cadet ForceHomeLeague0 – 2
8/11/1952Hastings Youth CentreHomeLeague3 – 3Trevor Vince, Derrick Pope, F Wilkins (pen)
15/11/1952Calvert Youth CentreAwayLeague0 – 7
22/11/1952West St Leonards Boys ClubAwayLeague0 – 2
6/12/1952Rye United MinorsAwayLeague1 – 5Derrick Pope
13/12/1952St Leonards MinorsAwayLeague2 – 6Alwyn David, Ron Barden
20/12/1952Udimore IIAwayFriendly2 – 5Alwyn David, Norman Hickman (pen)
27/12/1952Hastings ColtsHomeLeague1 – 2Norman Hickman
10/1/1953Round Table Boys ClubHomeHastings F A Youth Cup Cup 1st Round4 – 6Derrick Pope 3, Alwyn David
31/1/1953The Junior Club TacklewayHomeLeague2 – 1Alwyn David, Ron Barden
21/2/1953Calvert Youth CentreHomeLeague5 – 6Alwyn David 2, Michael Wise, John Parsons, O Easter
7/3/1953West St Leonards Boys ClubHomeLeague2 – 3Michael Wise, Alwyn David
21/3/1953Round Table Boys ClubHomeLeague2 – 9Malcolm Potten, John Parsons
28/3/1953Bexhill Town Athletic MinorsHomeLeague0 – 7
11/4/1953Rye United MinorsHomeLeague0 – 6
18/4/1953St Thomas Boys ClubAwayLeague0 – 7
22/4/1953Hastings ColtsAwayLeague0 – 3
25/4/1953St Thomas Boys ClubHomeLeague1 – 4Alwyn David

GENERAL MATTERS

The mole draining at Icklesham Recreation Ground was carried out during the season and produced a great improvement although the path into the hut was a source of irritation in wet weather. Thanks were due once more to Anthony Freeman for the continued use of the Wall Field in Winchelsea, principally for minor games. The Icklesham Cricket Pavilion and the Castle Inn, Winchelsea were again used for changing.

Marking-out and the putting-up of nets remained a difficulty, although Denis Swaine did wonders, but these were usually accomplished before kick-off. In this connection, punctuality was extremely poor and on several occasions sides started with less than a full team on the field.

Money-raising events included two dances and a series of six whist drives, organised by Bob Rich and his wife. In general, playing members did not fulfil their obligation to support some or all of these events.

The Annual General Meeting of the Club was held at the Robin Hood Inn, Icklesham on Thursday, 30th July 1953 at 8 pm.

CLUB OFFICIALS